diff --git a/src/libvirt_private.syms b/src/libvirt_private.syms
index eae817d14d..c4af57d02b 100644
--- a/src/libvirt_private.syms
+++ b/src/libvirt_private.syms
@@ -1821,6 +1821,7 @@ virJSONValueObjectHasKey;
 virJSONValueObjectIsNull;
 virJSONValueObjectKeysNumber;
 virJSONValueObjectRemoveKey;
+virJSONValueObjectStealArray;
 virJSONValueToString;
 
 
diff --git a/src/util/virjson.c b/src/util/virjson.c
index b6d9a34201..1d8e6d5774 100644
--- a/src/util/virjson.c
+++ b/src/util/virjson.c
@@ -770,6 +770,30 @@ virJSONValueObjectGet(virJSONValuePtr object,
 }
 
 
+static virJSONValuePtr
+virJSONValueObjectSteal(virJSONValuePtr object,
+                        const char *key)
+{
+    size_t i;
+    virJSONValuePtr obj = NULL;
+
+    if (object->type != VIR_JSON_TYPE_OBJECT)
+        return NULL;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < object->data.object.npairs; i++) {
+        if (STREQ(object->data.object.pairs[i].key, key)) {
+            VIR_STEAL_PTR(obj, object->data.object.pairs[i].value);
+            VIR_FREE(object->data.object.pairs[i].key);
+            VIR_DELETE_ELEMENT(object->data.object.pairs, i,
+                               object->data.object.npairs);
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return obj;
+}
+
+
 /* Return the value associated with KEY within OBJECT, but return NULL
  * if the key is missing or if value is not the correct TYPE.  */
 virJSONValuePtr
@@ -785,6 +809,21 @@ virJSONValueObjectGetByType(virJSONValuePtr object,
 }
 
 
+/* Steal the value associated with KEY within OBJECT, but return NULL
+ * if the key is missing or if value is not the correct TYPE.  */
+static virJSONValuePtr
+virJSONValueObjectStealByType(virJSONValuePtr object,
+                              const char *key,
+                              virJSONType type)
+{
+    virJSONValuePtr value = virJSONValueObjectSteal(object, key);
+
+    if (value && value->type == type)
+        return value;
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+
 int
 virJSONValueObjectKeysNumber(virJSONValuePtr object)
 {
@@ -1194,6 +1233,13 @@ virJSONValueObjectGetArray(virJSONValuePtr object, const char *key)
 }
 
 
+virJSONValuePtr
+virJSONValueObjectStealArray(virJSONValuePtr object, const char *key)
+{
+    return virJSONValueObjectStealByType(object, key, VIR_JSON_TYPE_ARRAY);
+}
+
+
 int
 virJSONValueObjectIsNull(virJSONValuePtr object,
                          const char *key)
diff --git a/src/util/virjson.h b/src/util/virjson.h
index 64cae88dff..8b62d651d6 100644
--- a/src/util/virjson.h
+++ b/src/util/virjson.h
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ virJSONValuePtr virJSONValueObjectGetObject(virJSONValuePtr object,
                                             const char *key);
 virJSONValuePtr virJSONValueObjectGetArray(virJSONValuePtr object,
                                            const char *key);
+virJSONValuePtr virJSONValueObjectStealArray(virJSONValuePtr object,
+                                             const char *key);
 
 const char *virJSONValueObjectGetString(virJSONValuePtr object, const char *key);
 int virJSONValueObjectGetNumberInt(virJSONValuePtr object, const char *key, int *value);